The ultimate guide for newbies
Going to Disneyland for the first time can be a bit overwhelming. Which ride should I go on first? How do I make a dining reservation? What is Genie? Here in this blog post I will break it all down for you!
What does Disneyland include?
When you book a trip to Disneyland you are getting much more than just Disneyland! The Disney Resort includes Disneyland, Disney’s California Adventure and Downtown Disney. All 3 of these places are within walking distance of each other. Both Disneyland and California Adventure are magical parks that includes rides, shows, restaurants and so much more. Downtown Disney is filled with shops, restaurants and entertainment.
Book your trip!
There are many different sites you can buy your tickets through. We always get our tickets through our friends at Undercover Tourist. They have great deals and discounts there. You can check them out by clicking HERE. We usually recommend getting a 1 park per day pass, when getting a park hopper (meaning you can go to both parks in the same day) the price increases $60. You can read more about why we recommend that HERE.
Where should I stay?
Staying on property at one of Disney Resorts 3 hotels is always magical but can also be $$! So we usually stay off property. There are 3 things we try to consider when booking a hotel. Price, proximity to the park and breakfast.
Price: we are all about doing our trips on the Dime! So we like to find a hotel that is nice but not too pricy. We like to find a hotel between $90-$150 (depending on the time of year).
Proximity: we like to book a hotel within walking distance so we do not have to pay to park at Disney. To park at Disney it is $30 a day.
Breakfast: we like to book a hotel with breakfast so we don’t have to buy food in the parks! It’s also nice to start a long park day with a good meal in your belly.
When should I go?
We get asked this question often and I am sad to say gone are the days of open walkways and walking on to rides. There are certain times of year that tend to be slower though. We recommend going in January, February (not Presidents’ Day Weekend) and September. Also if you can avoid weekends, weekdays tend to be slower.
What should I pack?
We go into detail about what to bring to the parks HERE. Did you know you can bring in your own food and water? That is a big money saving tip for us. We always bring in a lunch. And if you are bring little ones check out what to bring HERE.
Things to do BEFORE your trip
Make your park reservation! Since the parks re-opened in April, you are now required to make a park reservation to get in. You can either do this on the Disneyland app or online. If on the app click the plus sign (+) on the bottom center and click “Make a Park Reservation”. If they do not have any reservations available for the day you’d like to go, check back daily as people cancel or they open more reservations!
Make dining reservations! Dining reservation open 60 days in advance (usually very early in the morning). So if there is a popular restaurant you’d like try to get it the day it opens! If there are none available, check back daily, some will likely open up! You can make dining reservations online or on the app. On the app click the plus sign (+) on the bottom center and click “Check Dining Availability”.
Things to do once you arrive in Anaheim
Download the Disneyland app. This is very important! Not only can you do important things like make park and dining reservations but it also tells you wait times for rides, has a map of the park, tells you the events schedule (find this on the homepage, scroll all the way to the bottom) and lets you know what rides are closed. This app will be a big help to your trip. So download it and get familiar with it.
Check the park hours. So here’s the thing. If the park opens at 8am, that does not mean you should get there at 8am, that means you should be AT THE PARK waiting for the rope to drop at 7:30am! Rope drop is a term you will hear often in the Disney world. Rope drop means when the park opens. Getting there before rope drop will guarantee that you can punch out a bunch of big ticket rides in the first couple hours. It is the best time to be at the parks! We highly recommend being ready at the park a half hour before opening. Now if you’re driving or walking that will take time, plus you have security to get through. So we like to leave our hotel room an hour before the park opens. Since we are on the subject of rope drop, I will tell you my usual go to rides to check off my list when the park opens:
–Disneyland: Rise of the Resistance or Space Mountain, some people say Peter Pan because that ride line always gets long, I would only say do Peter Pan is if you have little ones and you head there FIRST, if you go there second, the line will be long by then.
-California Adventure: Radiator Springs Racers, this line will get long, so I highly recommend going here first!
What is Genie+?
Disney Genie is finally here! Disney Genie+ is a bit like FastPass. To find out more about it click HERE.
Things to know
Click HERE to learn more about Buddy Pass (offered on Monsters Inc), Single Rider line (skip the line and go by yourself!), Rider Swap (for when you have a little one who can’t go on a big kid ride) and more!
Did you know all the shows and entertainment are INCLUDED in your ticket?! We absolutely love all the shows, parades and fireworks. Our kids favorite is Disney Jr Dance Party, read more about that HERE.
If you’re going with little ones and forget anything the Baby Care Center located in both parks has you covered. Check it out HERE.
If you are pregnant at Disney click HERE to see what rides you can go on.
Click HERE to see what rides babies can go on.
HERE our are 10 best money saving tips at the parks.